sections

Friday, December 12, 2014

Death Metal World Cup Quarter Finals: Sinister vs Vader

VS

SinisterThe Post-Apocalyptic Servant

VaderTibi Et Igni

On paper, there’s very little to distinguish Sinister and Vader: Both bands exploded out of the European death metal scene around the same time with a thrashy style that’s equal parts Morbid Angel and Slayer. Both have gone through extensive line-up changes and have just one original member left. So how did Vader go on to become one of the most successful death metal bands in the world, while Sinister is struggling to maintain relevance?

Sinister’s inconsistency from album to album has played its part, but the gulf between the two bands can be more readily attributed to Peter Wiwczarek’s leadership than any failings on the Dutch band’s part. Wiwczarek’s always had a knack for arranging songs with memorability in mind - something Sinister has always struggled with. Not that Sinister can be held to the same standard - the band at this point is comprised of talented ringers rather than true veterans.

THE MATCH UP: This one’s largely down to my own capriciousness. Vader has always had a broader appeal, but anyone with a soft spot for this kind of thrashy death metal could do worse than either of these albums. Tibi et Igni gets incredibly twee during the keyboard instrumentals, which should bother me - but they show a determination on Wiwczarek’s part to grow as a songwriter, which is one of the reasons I’ve stuck with Vader for so long. The Post-Apocalyptic Servant, for all its charm, is the work of a band sticking to what it does best and delivering nothing more than what its fans want. That type of conservatism may get points from a different kind of hesher, but not this one.